Student Affairs Development - University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 3, 2005

Online Fan Involvement From NCAA Basketball Tournament “ Pontiac Game Changing Performance” Benefits University of Illinois Student General Scholarship. With the excitement of the 2004-2005 college basketball season over, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students are still cheering as the call was received from Pontiac last week asking, “Where should we send the check?"
$105,000 is being awarded to Illinois in the first-ever fan-voted scholarship award program in the history of NCAA Basketball. The "Pontiac Game Changing Performance" feature recognized that dramatic moment which occurs in almost every competition, that ends up changing the outcome of a game, and perhaps defining a season.
"The Pontiac Game Changing Performance scholarship award program focuses on plays that vividly show the most incredible, spine-tingling moments that exemplify the emotion and intensity of NCAA sports," said Dino Bernacchi, Pontiac Advertising Manager. "The connection to Pontiac as the performance division of GM is clear."
Fans chose the Illinois vs. Arizona game [ Illinois 90, Arizona 89 (OT)] where t he top-seeded Illini battled back from a 14-point deficit with under four minutes to play against Arizona before prevailing in overtime in the NCAA tournament’s fourth round. Fans voted for Pontiac to award Illinois with $5,000 and then again for Illinois to receive the program’s top award of an additional $100,000.
Each week, fans could go online, view the nominated plays, and vote for their favorite Game Changing Performance. The play selected by the fans generated a $5,000 contribution from Pontiac to that school's general scholarship fund. Additionally, the play becomes eligible for inclusion in voting at the end of the season to determine the "Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year." The play of the year, selected by fans’ on-line votes, resulted in a $100,000 General Scholarship Fund contribution from Pontiac to the winning NCAA institution-- Illinois. "We are very proud of this year's Illinois basketball team and this contribution from Pontiac is a great testament to the excitement Illini fans enjoyed throughout the season and the NCAA tournament. The contribution to the general scholarship fund helps us assure that talented students of all economic backgrounds have access to our programs, and that is a top priority of the University of Illinois." said Chancellor Richard Herman.
"Pontiac has created a great scholarship program that shows its continued commitment to NCAA athletics. The weekly voting process of the Game Changing Performance scholarship gets college basketball fans directly involved with the accomplishments of NCAA basketball teams while generating national attention for our colleges and universities," said Peter Davis, associate director of NCAA corporate alliances. "One of the best parts of this initiative is the fact that it will ultimately benefit our member institutions and their efforts to provide programs and experiences for NCAA student-athletes."
Pontiac, a leading sponsor of NCAA sporting events and collegiate athletics, has contributed nearly $150,000 to NCAA institutions through this program, for this year's Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament.

Scholarships for Graduates of the Chicago Public School District. Ed and Valerie Blair established the Asher-Brown Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who are graduates of the Chicago Public School District.
The Blairs' gift is in honor of Mrs. Corinne Asher and Mr. James Brown, IV. Mrs. Asher was director of the William J. Cook Scholarship Fund for the Chicago Community Trust for 26 years. Mr. Brown was the Executive Director of the Chicago Community Trust who endorsed her actions.
Mrs. Asher was an activist scholarship director who tried to make a difference in students' lives, and Ed Blair is a case study of her work. He had no college plans when he met Mrs. Asher: she convinced him that he should go to college, arranged for him to attend the University of Illinois, and provided the funds to do so. He went on to earn B.S. (1973) and Ph.D. (1978) degrees from the University.
In establishing the Asher-Brown Scholarship Fund, the Blairs hope to support the University of Illinois in carrying forward Mrs. Asher's work, making a first-class education available to Chicago students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college.

A Memorial to their Son. Harry and Alice Allen provided additional support for the Christopher L. Allen Endowed Scholarship, a scholarship they established in memory of their son Christopher, a 1983 political science graduate. The scholarship is for a student who is a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity majoring or minoring in political science or communications.
Christopher began his career on the campaign staff of former U.S. Senator Charles Percy. He served as an aide to a number of Republican officials in Illinois, including Director of Communications for former Illinois Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra and as Deputy Campaign Press Secretary to former U.S. Representative Lynn Martin. He also served in Washington D.C. as Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Ambassador Carla Hills, and as Staff Assistant to former U.S. Labor Secretary Lynn Martin.
Harry Allen, a 1956 graduate with a degree in aeronautical and astronomical engineering, is a retired engineer, and Alice is a retired school psychologist. The Allen's goal is to continue to increase the funding so that it will eventually provide a full tuition and fee scholarship.

Great Vehicle in Assisting Students. Norman and Mary Jane Beasley established a charitable gift annuity and bequest provision in support of the Generation to Generation Scholarship Program, an undergraduate scholarship program for students with financial need. Recipients are encouraged to give back to help future Illinois students after they graduate.
The gift provides scholarships, in the Beasley's name, to students studying in the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular & Integrative Physiology.
Norm received a degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and had a successful career as a professional musician and investment broker in Champaign. Mary Jane served as a research scientist at the Urbana-Champaign campus for 30 years, in the Departments of Biochemistry, and Molecular & Integrative Physiology. After retiring in 1991, the Beasleys became involved with the Tucson Illini Club. They served as co-presidents for four years, and remain actively on the board.
Norm and Mary Jane became interested in providing scholarship support to students on the Urbana-Champaign campus and felt the Generation to Generation Scholarship Program was a great vehicle in assisting students with the greatest financial need. Their interest arose from the many meaningful interactions they had with students while living and working in the community.